Greg Walden to Seek Second Term Running NRCC (Updated)

Updated 3:54 p.m. | National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Greg Walden announced Tuesday he will seek a second term running the House GOP’s campaign arm.

“I fully intend to seek re-election as NRCC chairman,” Walden told reporters at an afternoon briefing at the committee’s headquarters. “I think it’s important work,” he continued. “And it’s especially important going forward into a presidential cycle to build on what [former NRCC Chairman] Pete Sessions and I started, carry that forward during what will obviously be a different makeup of the electorate in a presidential year.”

The NRCC chairman is an elected position. Conversely, the House Democratic leader selects the chairman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

“It’s up to the conference to decide, of course, but my focus between now and then is solely on growing our majority, as it should be,” he said.

The Oregon Republican ran unopposed for the job after the 2012 elections. In April, several Capitol Hill sources said Walden would coast to a second term if he wanted it.

His re-election would provide some continuity to GOP leadership. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s June primary loss in Virginia prompted changes in the lineup.

“I believe it’s a White House/DCCC fundraising scam. It’s very clear impeachment is not on the table, hasn’t been on the table,” he said. “The speaker reiterated that again, but they want to promote this to fire up their base and change the topic. And they’re pretty successful at raising money off it. It’s unfortunate, but that’s what it is.”